Wrightwood Trails

[bigpines]

Went up Baden Powell Yesterday, I made it about 1 3/4 miles and turned around.  The ice was thick and too hard to stick my poles in.  I don't do the campon/ice ax thing.  It was cold and windy too.  I think it is still too dangerous.  

[clint]

The Baden-Powel trail from Vincent Gap is typically still very icy until June.

[ezzpete]

yeah, that's what i figured. when i went before any measurable snow, it was icy.

[ezzpete]

how about Blue Ridge, anyone been up there? lately i've seen cars in the parking area.  

[Wrightwood]

Great news in today's Mountaineer. Angeles Forest proposes to open Prairie Fork this summer.

I've been fortunate to be able to visit Lupine and Cabin Flats a few times late last year while working with the DFG on the Bighorn sheep restoration project. A few years back the area was burnt by wildfire and the new growth in the area is stunning!

Here's some Western Chokecherries along side the road near Lupine.

(Plenty of bears too!)

[Chesslike]

Did you hike, drive or go by horseback to get there?

[Wrightwood]

The DFG was able to arrange special permission from the Forest Service to allow us to drive in.

On one occasion we met two hunters that had taken their mountain bikes down the road and were at Cabin Flats. (Long ways back up)

[bigpines]

Tried to hike west on Hwy 2 from the closed gate.  I was asked politely to turn around (after about 2 miles).  The cal trans team claims they will be working on it for the next 2 weeks (including weekends) to get it open.  At first I was bummed, but then realized they are just doing their jobs and looking out for our safety.  I went east from Inspiration point to home instead ( I wanted to do some miles today).  Blue ridge has more snow than last week, but still not too much.  

How lucky we are to hike out of our own backyards to the beautiful surroundings we have.  When I lived down the hill I would have killed for a day like I had today.  Now I can have them anytime.

[Zarn]

Ok- we are new here too, and I am dying to hike those trails.. I think I'll try acorn first since we have such detailed directions..  I was also wondering, what about mountain biking??? Does anyone know of any good trails for that??? It would be great if one day Mt. high opened up for the spring/summer season, and had trails for biking, like Bear mt.  Maybe when they expand....

[clint]

Depends on your level of Mt. Biking. There are some really great fire roads, fairly extensive and somewhat confusing, off the road that leads to Ski Sunrise and Table Mt. Campground. If you want to work harder, there are a bunch of 4WD use trails that are not legal for motor vehicles, that the Forest Service trys to keep closed that run between the top of Lone Pine canyon and "The Levels" on Highway 2. Blue Ridge Road down to Lupine and Mine gulch campgrounds is a popular route, but you better have calves made of Titanium and elastic for the ride back up.

[Zarn]

ok.. I walked up Acorn trail, only far enough to feel like I should have a dog with me, and then turned around.. it looks beautiful up there, and next time, I'll bring a buddy..  (not into meeting up with bears yet...)
As far as the mountain biking goes... I guess Id like to find something that I can get to fairly easily, and feel dead by the time I get back down. Not too far off of the  beaten path, with a possibility that I may run into a human or two.. As I get more familiar, and more experienced, I'll venture farther. Right now my bathing suit is looking at me and saying "ya right."  So getting in shape is my main concern.  Keeping in shape will follow.

[ezzpete]

[BikingBrian]

For mountain biking, I like taking 4N12 from Jackson Lake.  Since it's a less gradual climb than some of the other rides, I use this route when I've led a ride with friends from down the hill.  Sometimes if I have a stronger group I've added in the 4N56 spur down Pinyon Ridge, but it's a steep sandy climb back up!  Don't miss the singletrack going back down to the lake; otherwise you'll end up at the Grassy Hollow Visitor Center.  I've had to walk the bike through the parts of the singletrack that were washed out.  (I'm not that great on singletrack anyway...)

I haven't had a chance to explore the dirt roads off from Vincent Gap.

Group mountain bike ride would be cool.  May is bad for me, as I will be away for most of the month on business/personal travel (cycling in the French Alps!).

TableMtn, I thought Highway 2 west of the gate at Vincent Gap was open to non-motorized year-round (I have skiied on it), just like Highway 39.  Or is the difference here that Caltrans to work on Highway 2 to reopen it in the summer, whereas they don't do that for Highway 39?

[TableMtn]

Yes, normally Hwy 2 is open to non-motorized traffic in the winter when it is closed to vehicles.  Cal Trans does have jurisdiction over this road, so if they asked Big Pines to turn around, it is under their perogative.  They should be working on it at this time of year to get it open.  I'm hoping it will open a little earlier this year than last as they don't have as much repair work to do as they did last year.  

I'd be VERY CAREFUL about skiing on this road in the winter.  There are 6 avalanche chutes that cross the road in the closure area.  (and people wonder why Cal Trans won't spend the money to keep it open in the winter...).  I don't know anything about what constitutes avalanche conditions, I haven't had any training along those lines but I know people who have and they were the ones who warned me to be careful about xcountry skiing along that road in the winter.  If you have more knowledge about how to "read" these conditions, maybe you feel more comfortable.  (and I don't really x-country ski, I x-country "shuffle"!)

[BikingBrian]

I had meant to ask bigpines, but I typed in TableMtn instead ... but thanks for answering!  Thanks for the winter warning also (and I also shuffle instead of ski).  :-)

[ezzpete]

Brian, lets go in June then.

you know, on the subject of sking. about 2-3 weeks ago my daughter came up and we drove up to vincent gap. when we got to the parking lot there were 3 guys there. 2 were together and 1 was alone. the 2 guys had snow boards, and the lone guy had skis.

they were getting packs ready and strapping their skis/boards on. the ski guy took off hiking up towards mt. BP, don't know where the others went. we wondered if these guys were planning on doing some extreme sking.

there didn't seem to be enough snow  covering the rocks to do this. anyone got any ideas on what we saw?

[TableMtn]

Yea, I think you saw darwinism in action--or "nature has a way of removing stupid genes from the population."  

Gee, I'm getting cynical and crotchety in my old age....

[Wrightwood]

Here's a couple of photos taken from Blue Ridge this past week.

Hwy 2 & Hwy 138 - Mt Top



Mountain Hardware & the Wrightwood Post Office

[Nolena]

I think I saw a lady bug on one of those cars at the post office.  
That is some lens!

I agree with Table Mountain. Those guys with boards and skis were proof that Darwin was right.
Of course, the cougars could always use an extra snack...

[TableMtn]

And that is natures way of keeping the Big Horn population from overhunting by those cougars